Nu-metal; to some, it’s a stain on the timeline of heavy alternative music, shamefully cashing in on the rap/hip-hop culture of the 90’s…to others, it opened the doors to a whole new world of music, allowing fans to discover artists they’d otherwise never come across. Big names such as KORN and LIMP BIZKIT gaining commercial success for metal that hadn't been seen for years, paved the way in this new era of music, while others simply rode the waves of profitability. One band who never quite made it to the big time, despite their popularity, was COAL CHAMBER. With a charismatic front-man by the name of Dez Fafara, and a darker take on nu-metal with tracks such as “Fiend” and “Glow”, they had a more underground following in the grand scheme of things, before disbanding early into the new millennium. However, with nostalgia ripe, Dez has recently reformed the old band, taking a break from his duties with DEVILDRIVER, resulting in a brand new album; “Rivals”…let’s take a trip down memory lane… We open up with the come-back single; ”I.O.U. Nothing” and immediately it’s as though they never went away. The familiar growls of Fafara sounding revitalized among the characteristically down-tuned guitar sound associated with the genre, as it was intended back in the day, and it’s a welcome return to form, which is also repeated in “Light In The Shadows”. Vocally it’s fair to say Fafara retains some of the elements of his heavier work with Devildriver but it only adds to the overall feel and intensity of the record; this is some strong material right here. “Suffer In Silence” features guest vocals from infamous MINISTRY front-man Al Jourgensen and together they combine to unleash an unforgiving, visceral onslaught, like a match made in hell if you will. The title track, slotted half way through the album is a slow, sinister number really highlighting the heritage of the band, harking back to the early underground days of their career, while “Wait”,“Over My Head” and closing track “Empty Handed” maintain the overall brutality throughout the album as a whole, never letting up, proving CC to this day, despite being dormant for so long, are still a force to be reckoned with. The genre itself may be taken with a pinch of salt these days but many bands have proven their worth in the fallout. Coal Chamber may have been forgotten by many, or even unheard of by some younger fans, but the fact is this, they rock…hard…and Rivals? They have plenty, but can more than stand their ground. [7]

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Gavin J Griffiths, a.k.a GavTheGothicChav, lover of new music and supporter of bands. Inspired by a mixture of horror and comedy, and fueled by a blend of alcohol and sarcasm...if you're singer / in a band and would like a review written up, please do get in touch via the email address at the top of the page and I'll get back to you ASAP. Much love x